Source: Team_Talk
McCall planning to play Jennings
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall has no hesitation about playing Steve Jennings against Hibernian on Saturday.[LNB] McCall is convinced Jennings is in the right frame of mind to face Hibernian despite his recent arrest.[LNB]McCall will play the midfielder at Easter Road after the club confirmed he was available for selection following his arrest on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud in a joint investigation by Merseyside Police and the Gambling Commission.[LNB]Jennings, one of nine men bailed until January pending further inquiries, has denied any involvement in an alleged betting scam relating to Motherwell's 2-1 defeat by Hearts in December last year, during which he was sent off.[LNB]And McCall revealed the 26-year-old had assured him he was determined to play in Saturday's Scottish Premier League clash.[LNB]McCall said: "It's 100% not a problem.[LNB]"All this week he has been training outstandingly well. I know you expect managers to say that, but he has.[LNB]"Him and Jamie Murphy have really shone this week. They've both trained well and there's no doubt in my mind he will be playing.[LNB]"He had a little bit of winding-up on the Monday when he came in but he trained really well and it's not a big decision."[LNB]McCall, who took over two weeks after the Hearts match, revealed he had spoken to Jennings about the investigation "a little bit when it raised its head 10 months ago".[LNB]McCall added: "Jenno just wants to get on with his football. He was a bit confused by it at first but he'll just get on with it and we've got to wait another few months now.[LNB]"But that's what it is. They've had a 10-month investigation and released him without charge, and we wait for another few months.[LNB]"As far as I'm concerned, Jenno's head is right, he wants to play, he's an important part of our team and will be playing at Easter Road."[LNB]The arrest threatened to derail Motherwell's excellent start to the season, which sees them sitting above Celtic in second place.[LNB]But Tom Hateley is confident Jennings and Motherwell can continue their impressive form.[LNB]"He seems to be enjoying himself at training, along with all the other lads," the right-back said.[LNB]"It's something that we're not trying to get too caught up in.[LNB]"We've got a massive game on Saturday and we can't wait to get out there.[LNB]"We have just got on with the football side of things. It's not something we have spoken to him about.[LNB]"He loves playing his football and he has been good to be around this week, as usual."[LNB]Motherwell go into the game on the back of a comfortable 3-1 victory at Dundee United before the international break.[LNB]Hateley added: "We've got massive belief in our squad that we can win games.[LNB]"It may be a bit of a surprise to see ourselves sitting in second but it's something we're relishing.[LNB]"We haven't had much of the limelight and I'm happy about that. A lot of the press has been about the Old Firm as it probably should be.[LNB]"That has worked well for us. We have just gone under the radar and done what we had to do to get three points.[LNB]"We have got players at this club that can win you games and are quick and good on the counter attack, and we've done well away from home so far."
